The Things That Matter
The narrator, an elderly woman, reflects on her life and the knowledge she has accumulated over the years. She realizes that much of what she knows will be lost when she dies, but some things will remain through written records. However, there are more important things that cannot be written down, such as how to care for children, cook, and tend to a household. The narrator is proud of her ability to predict the weather, identify herbs, and understand human nature. She hopes that even in death, she will retain some knowledge and not have it all taken away.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1907 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure · 624 words
First lines
NOW that I've nearly done my days, And grown too stiff to sweep or sew, I sit and think, till I'm amaze, About what lots of things I know: Things as I've found out one by one -- And when I'm fast down in the clay, My knowing things and how they're done Will all be lost and thrown away.
There's things, I know, as won't be lost, Things as folks write and talk about: The way to keep your roots from frost, And how to get your ink spots out.
What this Textopian page supports
The Things That Matter is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1907 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure
- Length: 624 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Things That Matter by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Things That Matter?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is primarily aimed at young readers, with a focus on adventure and moral lessons.
- Fantasy — The story involves magical elements and fantastical creatures, typical of the fantasy genre.
- Adventure — The plot revolves around a series of exciting events and challenges faced by the characters.
Tags
Family · Relationships · Marriage · Children · Parenting · Social Class · Society · Culture · Tradition · Values · Morality · Ethics